Time-Saving Products for the Kitchen--12 Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets

We all like to save time each day. I've come across and used some good, time-saving kitchen tools and kitchen gadgets that make everyday tasks.

Sometimes you see a kitchen product and you think: wow! what a good idea. Or you've wished for a kitchen tool that would take the headache out of everyday kitchen chores, such as those encountered while preparing food or when cleaning up.

The 10 time-saving products and kitchen tools mentioned below get high marks for their originality, their time-saving features, and their sheer "wow" factor. Any gadget that makes time in the kitchen a little easier, shorter, and safer is a real plus. Having the right tool for the job can make a huge difference.

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Years ago, I was given a dough scraper and wasn't entirely sure what it was at first and dubious about how this little tool would cut time from my kitchen chores. I've come to love dough scrapers and use them all the time.

If you've ever tried to remove hardened bits of dough from your counter, you know what a challenge it is. If you've used white flour, the dough can stick to your counter like glue. A plastic scraper makes short work of counter clean-up and doesn't damage arborite.

I also use my dough scrapers any time I need to remove hardened substances from frying pans, such a stuck on egg, or when dough has hardened on my rolling pin.

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This was a new one to me: a curved scraper for bowls. I've often wished that my flat edged scraper was curved for just such a task. This rounded scraper is a good little kitchen tool to have on hand, if you have hardened bits stuck to a bowl and want to remove them before washing it. If you make homemade bread, you are only too well aware of the clean-up of your bread bowl.

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A stainless steel hand-held juice press makes short work of extracting orange, lemon or lime juice when you need it. And you don't have to shell out for a larger machine that costs more and takes up counter space.

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As I mentioned above about removing dough from rolling pins: most of us have used wooden rolling pins and found that dough sticks to them and clean-up can be tricky. You really either have to try to scrape it off or soak your rolling pin until the dough softens enough to come off. But this is not ideal because then you wonder how much soap is being absorbed by your pin, never mind any germs that may permeate the wooden surface.

This marble rolling pin on a base not only looks attractive but the heavy smooth rolling pin:

• Does not harbor germs
• Cleans up easier with its smooth surface. Bits of dough come right off
• Weight makes for better rolling. This rolling pin get top marks because I make homemade noodles and the smoothness and weight make rolling out the dough to the required thinness much easier.

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I've never enjoyed coring or slicing apples. A simple apple corer/slicer can make short work of preparing apples for for apple crisp or apple dumplings. Having one of these makes such a difference in the kitchen.

An apple peeler/corer/slicer goes one better by actually removing most of the apple peel and the slices are thinner and more suited for pie-making. they are cut in a spiral and one simpel cut through the side gives you thin pieced for pie. These devices usually screw onto the counter edge and you crank the handle. Very convenient when you have lots of apples to prepare.

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I have one of these and absolutely love it--sure wish I'd had one years ago. I love pie but hate fiddling with pie crust.

If you've ever made pie crust and struggled to make a fluted edge, this fluted pie plate takes the headache out of doing so. Some people use a fork; others use their thumbs. Both methods take some doing, and to me are the monotonous part of pie-making.

With this fluted edge, all you do is roll up your dough on your rolling pin, roll your pie dough over the pan, press it to conform to the fluted shape and you end up with a perfectly shaped edge. What a good idea!

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Did you know that there is a simple tool for making ripple potato chips? I have one of these cutters and use it all the time to fancy up veggies, especially when company's coming. It not only makes for easier cutting but is is far safer.You can cut potatoes thin and fry them for potato chips or you can cut thicker rippled potatoes and bake these in the oven with butter, garlic, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasonings.

I also use my rippled cutter to make interesting-looking carrots and turnips.

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If you've ever tried to grate peel, you'll remember how frustrating that whole undertaking was--near impossible trying to use a grater to get the job done. A microplane zester makes short work of zesting limes, lemons or oranges. This is a newer product and chefs swear by it. Even better, a long zester isn't just for fruit, you can use it to grate hard cheeses, onions, ginger and more.

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I've had vegetables cut this way in restaurants and wanted to find how to make them this way at home. I always wondered what tool was used to make them. Restaurants often serve their vegetables cut in this fashion but you can produce the same effect at home. Julienne vegetable slicers are available, as seen to the right. your salad will look so much better and veggies cut this way offer a nice tecture.

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An electric cheese grater is a great kitchen tool. No matter how careful you are, sooner or later, you will knick your finger on those Marquis de Sade hand-held cheese graters with their sharp edges.

An electric cheese grater is far safer and it is so much easier to have an appliance on hand to grate your cheese for you--especially if you need larger amounts.

With an electric cheese grater, you can grate your cheese ahead of time and freeze it so that you have it at the ready for pizza and for other dishes.

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I liked the look of the Magic Bullet as soon as I saw it advertised. While the infomercial was somewhat campy, the actual Bullet looked intriguing. I'm always a fan of kitchen products that are simple, hand-held and do not eat up my counter space. The Magic Bullet is a compact product that has so many uses and is one device that makes preparing food so much easier and faster.

The Magic Bullet takes up about the same space as a coffee mug, yet replaces a food processor, blender, and coffee grinder. Make dips, drinks, sauces. Use it to chop, mix, whip, blend. What a handy little all-in-one tool!

You'll have more space on your countertop if you use a Bullet for your food preparation tasks.

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No matter who you are, novice cook to seasoned chef, sooner or later you will wish you had some sort of container to hold all your kitchen spoons, flippers, whisks, etc. I've tried plastic containers and they don't work because they tip over. Glass containers can be used but usually the glass is on the thin-side and if these become top-heavy and tip, they may break.

The perfect solution is a heavy steel caddy or ceramic wide-mouthed utensil holder, which are ideal containers to store all your assorted kitchen utensils in one spot--easily seen and grabbed when needed.

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Must-have kitchen tools and gadgets are those items that offer:

• Safety--any kitchen tool that makes cooking a safer process is always a good item to have on hand. This is especially important for cutting and grating tasks
• Time-Saving--a kitchen gadget that helps you to save time reduces stress
• Labor-Reducing--busy cooks everywhere appreciate kitchen tools that lighten the load

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None of the time-saving products mentioned above are overly expensive. They are a real help for reducing time spent in the kitchen and for curbing the sheer labor involved in meal preparation.

Additionally, these items make great gifts, so if you are stuck as to what to give someone, any of these neat gadgets will be appreciated.

If you use any of these items and find they save you time or frustration, please leave your comments below.

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